High chair



Feb. 1, 1955 J. D. ESTETTER HIGH CHAIR Filed Nov. 23, 1955 United States Patent HIGH CHAIR John D. Estetter, Highlands, Tex.

Application November 23, 1953, Serial No. 393,600

3 Claims. (Cl. 155-1) The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a high chair and has more partlcular reference to a seat construction which is thought to be novel and practical in that it is so constructed that 1t functions effectively to prevent the occupant from sliding and otherwise maneuvering himself from a sitting to a dangerous standing position.

It is a matter of common knowledge that after a youngster becomes accustomed to using and sitting in a high chair, he will, sooner or later, capture the 1dea of standing up on the seat of the chair. The danger which attends this sort of a maneuver is known to all who have reared young ones and various warnings and techniques are evidently employed in an effort to keep the youngster safely seated. From all reports, however, it appears that children go on risking the unsuspected likelihood of upsetting the high chair and tumbling out, etc. It follows that the objective in the instant proceeding is to provide a high chair wherein the forward portion of the seat is movable and, therefore, is such that it virtually prevents the occupant from sliding in the direction of the back rest and getting the required foot hold in order to stand up.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention, the high chair is characterized by a seat whose major rearward and center portion is fixed and whose complemental forward portion is movable, whereby said sections cooperating with each other serve to prevent the child occupant, unless he be unusually clever, from gaining the necessary foot hold and balance to maneuver from a sitting to a standing position.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on a sectional seat, the movable section of which is characterized by an endless belt of appropriate plastic or an equivalent material and a plurality of complemental rollers which render the belt sufficiently solid to function effectively as a component of a chair seat.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a high chair constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing the manner in which the same is constructed;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional and elevational view; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on the vertical line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings by way of reference numerals and with particular respect to Figure l, the base of the chair is here referred to as a leg structure, and this is denoted generally by the numeral 6. It is of any suitable construction. The back rest is denoted at 8 and the arms at 10-10, and the usual tray at 12. The numeral 14 designates a step. Insofar as the invention is concerned, it has to do with the seat, and this is novel in that it is characterized by a fixed or stationary section which takes the form of a fiat board 16 which is more or less conventional insofar as this portion of the over-all seat is concerned. The frame structure 18 of the seat construction comprises a pair of spaced parallel horizontal rails or frame members 20-20 between which the seat board 16 is fixedly mounted in any convenient man- 2,701,004 Patented Feb. 1, 1955 ner. The movable forward section is denoted generally by the numeral 22. This movable anti-standing component or section 22 may be of one form or another, but it is such that it is merely a complement to the section 16 insofar as providing the usual areal extent of the desired seat in a unitary sense. More specifically, it is preferably in the form of a miniature treadmill. Hence, it comprises an endless plastic or equivalent belt or band 24, one end, the left hand end in Figure 2 of the drawings, which is close to and forms a sort of a continuation of the seat 16 from its forward edge portion 26. A plurality of horizontal spaced parallel rollers 28 are provided as a firm support for the belt. These rollers are: coplanar with each other and in the same plane with the seat section 16. It will be seen, therefore, that the seat comprises the stationary board or section 16 and the roller-equipped endless belt or treadmill section. It will also be evident that the presence of this movable section is not objectionable insofar as normal occupancy of the chair is concerned. However, the movable section comes into play, obviously, if the occupant decides to suddenly attempt to slide back and lift himself up and assume a standing position as is often done. At this time, the treadmill comes into play and prevents the youngster gaining the desired support or foot hold, and hence, he cannot successfully push and lift himself to a standing position.

In Figure 3, it will be seen that each roller is provided with a journal pin 30 having one end portion 32 anchored axially in the roller and having the projecting portion mounted for free rotation in a socket or bearing 34 provided therefor in the frame rail 20.

It is believed that the improvement herein disclosed will safeguard life and limb and will save parents from having to cope with the mischievous but often dangerous antics of energetic youngsters. It is felt, too, that the invention is simple, practical, economical and such in construction and adaptability that it will meet the require, ments and needs, respectively, of manufacturers, retailers and users.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further expla: nation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the in:- vention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A high chair comprising a leg structure and comp plemental seat and back rest structure supported thereon and including a seat having a main fixed section adjacent to and complemental with the back rest, and a relatively movable front section, said front section being in the form of a miniature treadmill.

2. A high chair comprising a leg structure and com. plemental seat and back rest structure supported thereon and including a seat having a main fixed section adjacent to and complemental with the back rest, and a relatively movable front section, said front section being in the form of a miniature treadmill and including an endless belt and a plurality of rollers mounted for rotation and over which said belt is trained.

3. A high chair comprising a leg structure, a back rest, and a seat construction, said seat construction embodying a pair of spaced parallel horizontal frame members, a main stationary seat section in the form of a board mounted fixedly between said frame members, a plurality of coplanar spaced parallel rollers mounted for idling be tween said frame members, and an endless belt trained over said rollers in the manner and for the: purposes stated.

Hydorn et al. May 31, 1927 Lorenz Dec. 22, 1953 

